Airplane



G. A. MORRIS Aug. 13, 1929.

AIRPLANE 1928v 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 27 a MW N 0 M m NNW/WT JG H 7W s -.&,/

G. A. MORRIS Aug. 13, 1929.

AIRPLANE Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oI-Flcaf GEORGE A. MORRIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM E. ISCHAPER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.'

AIRPLANE.

Application led Iune 27, 1928. Serial No. 288,669. s

This invention relates to airplanes, and has special rei/ erenceto the construction of the wings, and consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein disclosed. i

An object of the invention is to provide lan airplane with hollow wings, andjmeans for opening and closing the upper wall of the wings in orderto vary the speed and the lifting power of the machine.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an airplane with wings of improved construction comprising means for moving one of the walls of the wings in order to control the machine in case of tail spin so that the machine may be readily d righted and operated by the pilot.

Another object of the invention is to provide an `airplane comprising a landing gear including. wheels, and means for extending vthe wheels for use in case of landing and for withdrawing the wheels into the body or fuselage of the airplane to reduce air resistance during flight. y

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawings in lwhich Fig. 1 is a plan view of an airplane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view from front to rear of one of the wings on the line 2 2 o f Fig. l. n .c f

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at right angles to that of Fig. 2 on the line. 8-3 of Fig. 1 showing the wing open/ tc obtain reduced speed and increase the lifting and carrying power of the airplane.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the wing closed. y

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the airplane.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of thexairplane.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the'mechanism for operating the devices for opening and closing the wings.

the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the'line 99 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the actuating devices foropening and closing the wings mounted between the upper and lower walls of the wings.

Fig. 11 is a view showing -my improved landing gear. A

Fig. 12 is a front to rear vertical 'sectional view of a. different form of wing.

Each of the principal wings of my iinproved airplane is hollow and comprises a lower wall 1, the front edge of which inclines upwardly and rearwardly to provide a wall 2 terminating in a reinforcement 3. From the reinforcement 3 a number of angular partitionand wall-forming elements extend toward the rear edge of thexwing. As shown, each of said elements comprises a vertical partition-forming angle 4 tapering from maximum vertical width at its front end toward\tlie rear of the wing; and

bodiment shown in Figs. l, 3 Vand 4 the rods 5 are mounted for longitudinal sliding movements in bearings 10 attached tovthe flanges l 5. These arms 8 exte iding from the longitudinally movable rods 9 hold the slides 7 spaced according to the spacing of the opening 6. The inner ends of the respective rods 9 are pivoted to the outer ends of links 11. The inner ends of the links 11 are pivoted to collars or nuts 12 screwed on a shaft 13 journaled for rotation in bearings 14. From this it is obvious (Fig. l) that when the shaft 13 is`rotated in one direction the nuts or collars 12 will be operated along, said Shaft to move 'all of the rods 9 longitudinally in an outward direction, thus moving the slides 7 to position to close the openings 6 and provide hollow wings having a continnous lower wall and a substantially contin- Fig. 8 is a lsectional view of a wing" on,

uous upper wall. By rotating the shaft 13 in the opposite direction all of the rods 9 ioo will be moved longitudinally in an inward tion and arrangement but a different form of 9 will be moved outwardly in a longitudioperating mechanism for theLrods 9. `In this`construction each of the rods 9 has pinand-slot connection with one end of a link 21. The opposite ends of the links 21 are pivoted to a stationary bearing 22 for a rotary shaft 23. Links 24 pivotally connect the respective links 21 with a nut or collar 25 screwed on the shaft 23, so that when said shaft is rotated in one direction the rods nal direction to close the slides 7 ;and when the shaft 23 is rotate in the opposite d irection the rods 9 'will e moved longitudinally in an inward direction to move the slides 7 to obtain open wings (Fig. 10).

Each of the shafts 23'is geared by beveled gearing 26 to a shaft 27 equipped with a hand wheel 28 for rotating the same. It 1s lobvious that, instead of mounting the rods `9 in bearings 10 on top of the wings, said. rods may .be otherwise mounted. For mstance, in Fig. 10, rods 29 corresponding to the rods 9 are shown mounted for sliding movements in openings in the flanges 4 and provided with arms 30 attached to the slides 7. The rods 29 may be moved longitudinally in inward and outward directions by the same mechanism previously described.

. The airplane shown comprises a fuselage 31, the upperrrear side of which comprises a wallJ32 provided on its upper side with longitudinal chambers or compartments 33 obtained by attaching to the. upper wall 32the vertical flanges 34 of angle members, the laterally extended flanges 35 of which are spaced to leave openings to the compartments 33.

The fuselage may also beequipped withcomparatively short laterally extended wings comprising lower walls 36 having their front edges extending upwardly and 'rearwardly to provide walls 37. To the walls 36 angle members 38 are secured so as to provide longitpdinal, that is, front to rear, open compa/rtments or chambersy 39 similar to those on the upper side of the fuselage.

The elevators 40 are pivoted to stabilizers 41 longer than the wings at the sides of the fuselage, butof similar construction.

. The landing gear shown in Fig. 11 comprises wheels 42 attached to angular arms 43 pivoted intermediate of their length at 44 and actuated in a directionand to a position to upper wall, and a wing hold the 'wheels 42 extended for landing, by springs 45. The upper ends of the arms 43 are pivoted to one end ofa link 46, the op posite end of which is pivoted to the lever 0f a foot pedal 47 which is operative toV This wing is of the hollow type and comprises a bottomwall 48 having a curved wall 49 connected with its front edge by hinge connection 50 and being capable of swinging movements toward and away from the wing 48. A'chain 51 connecting the wall 49 with the wall 48 limits extent of movement of the wall 49 from the wall 48.

Another wall 52 of appropriatashape has its rear edge connected with the rear edge of the wall 48 by 'hinge connection 53 and has its front edge overlapped by the rear edge of the wall 49; A'numberof pivotally connected toggle devices comprises upper links 54 `having their upper ends pivoted to the inner sides of the wall 52 near its front edge, and links 55 having their upper ends pivoted to the lower ends of the links l54 and having their lower-ends pivoted to the wall 48 operative to move the wall 52 to different adjustments. The mechanism for operating the toggle links may comprise a rod 56 screwedthrough ears 57 projecting laterally from the toggle links 54. The rod 56 being immovable longitudinally and being rotative, it is obvious that when said rod is turned in one direction the toggle links will-be folded. When the toggle links are extended the walls 52 and 49 are in the relationship `shown in Fig. 12; and when the toggle links`\lare folded the walls 52`and 49 may assume the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12:.

In case of tail"` spin or nthe/like the air resistance against the under side of the rear edge of the wall 49 will open the wall 49, as shown in dotted lines; (Fig. l2), thus reducing the speed of the tail spin and enable the pilot to right and to control the machine.

The invention may bexotherwise varied widely within equivalent limits without departure from the nature and rinciple thereof. I do not restrict myself) in unessential respects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An' airplane comprising a fuselage havingan upper wall, means forming a number of chambers extending longitudinally from front to rear along the lzlfpper side of said or sustaining the p in said wing.

airplane in flight and having a number of longitudinal chambers or compartments extending from front to r'ear in its upper side.

2. An airplane comprising a fuselage having an upper wall, means forming a number of chambers extending longitudinally from front to rear along the upper side of said upper wall, a wing for sustaining the airplane in flight and having a number of longitudinal chambers or compartments extend-l ing from front to rear in its upper side, and means for opening and `closing said chambers 3. A wing for airplanes comprising a lower wall, a vertical partition rising from said lower wall and tapering from maximum vertical width at their front ends toward the rear, means in connection with the upper edges of said partitions forming an upper wall for the wing having openings to the spaces between the respective partitions,

, a laterally movable slide for opening and closing each of said openings, and mechanism for operating said slides laterally to' open and to close said openings.

4. A wing for airplanes comprising a lower wall, a number of partitions rising from said lower wall and extending from front to rear, means in connection with the upper edges of said partitions forming an upper wall having openings therethrough between the respective partitions, slides movable laterally to and from position to close said openings, inwardly and outwardly longitudinally movable rods connected with said slides, a rotar shaft, elements screwed on said shaft for longitudinal movements thereon, links pivotally connecting said rods with said elements, and mechanism for rotating said shaft and thereby moving said elements longitudinally along said shaft.

5. An airplane comprising a fuselage,` a number of wings in connection with the front portion of said fuselage for sustaining the same in flight, and a number of comparatively short laterally extended `wings in connection with the fuselage rearwardly of said first named wings and each having a number of front to rear chambers therein openingv upwardly.

6. An airplane comprising number of Wings in connection with the front portion of said fuselage for sustaining the same'in flight, a number of comparatively short laterally extended wings in connection with the -fuselage rearwardly of said first named wings and each having a number of front to rear chambers therein opening upwardly, and a stabilizer in connection with the rear end of the fuselage of greater length than said second named wings and having a number of front to rear chambers therein opening upwardly. A 7L An airplane comprising a fuselage, wings lextending laterally from said fuselage for sustaining the same in flight, a. plurality of chambers in each of said wings extending from front to rear and opening upwardly laterally beyond the sides of the fuselage, laterally movable slides for opening and closing said chambers simultaneously, and means for holding said slides spaced according to the spacing of the openings from said chambers and for operating said slides simultaneously to 'open and to close said chambers.'

GEORGE A. MORRIS.

a fuselage, a c 

